Side Effects of Seroquel (Quetiapine)

Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsCommon Side Effects of SeroquelSerious Side EffectsMedication InteractionsSeeking Emergency HelpOther PrecautionsFrequently Asked Questions

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

Common Side Effects of Seroquel

Serious Side Effects

Medication Interactions

Seeking Emergency Help

Other Precautions

Frequently Asked Questions

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What is the most important information I should know about Seroqeul?You should not take Seroquel if you are allergic to quetiapine.Seroquel should not be used to treat psychosis in older adults with dementia.This medication may increase the risk of suicidal thoughts and behavior in young people under the age of 25.

What is the most important information I should know about Seroqeul?

You should not take Seroquel if you are allergic to quetiapine.Seroquel should not be used to treat psychosis in older adults with dementia.This medication may increase the risk of suicidal thoughts and behavior in young people under the age of 25.

Seroquel can be helpful and effective, but it is also important to be aware of the potential side effects. This includes common symptoms such as constipation, drowsiness, and rapid heartbeat, as well as more serious side effects such as tardive dyskinesia.

Seroquel for Anxiety

Check with your doctor if any of the following common side effects don’t go away or are bothersome:

The most commonly observed side effects were somnolence (18%), dizziness (11%), dry mouth (9%), and constipation (8%).

In some cases, more serious side effects may occur. Some of these include:

Seroquel can increase the amount of a hormone called prolactin. In some cases, this may interrupt menstruation or breastfeeding. It can also cause decreased sex drive and erectile dysfunction. Long-term exposure to elevated prolactin levels can increase the risk for osteoperosis and bone fractures.

Tardive Dyskinesia

Tardive dyskinesia, a movement disorder, may occur and may not go away after you stop using Seroquel.This was much more common with the older antipsychotic medications, but can very rarely occur with the newer atypical agents such as Seroquel.

Signs of tardive dyskinesia include:

Combining Seroquel with other medications can affect how each medication functions or may lead to increased or decreased side effects. Some of the medications that may interact with Seroquel include:

Seroquel should not be taken with anti-arrhythmic drugs, pentamidine, or methadone. These medications may lead to potentially fatal heart rhythm problems if they are combined with Seroquel.

For this reason, it is important to talk to your prescribing physician about other medications or supplements you are currently taking it. This medication can also lead to increased risks when combined with alcohol or illicit substance, so be sure to talk about any substances you might be using.

When to Seek Help

Another serious but extremely rare side effect that may occur as a result of taking Seroquel is neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS).

Stop taking this medicine and get emergency help immediately if the following symptoms of NMS occur, particularly if they occur together:

Notify your doctor immediately if any of these symptoms of overdose occur: drowsiness, fast, slow, or irregular heartbeat, and low bread pressure and weakness. These symptoms may be more severe than side effects occurring at regular doses, or several symptoms may occur together.

What Are the Signs of an Overdose?

If you’re taking or plan to take Seroquel, keep in mind these precautions:

How Long Do Seroquel (Quetiapine) Withdrawal Symptoms Last?

Frequently Asked QuestionsSeroquel is not habit-forming, but you should not stop taking the medication without talking to your doctor first. You may experience withdrawal symptoms when you stop taking your medication, so you may be advised to gradually taper your dose in order to avoid unpleasant symptoms.Learn More:How Long Does Seroquel Withdrawal Last?Seroquel has a half-life of around six hours. This means that it takes around six hours for half of the dose to be eliminated from your body. While it varies for each individual, the medication may stay in your system for around a day and a half. Factors such as your metabolism, overall health, kidney function, and age can affect how fast the drug is eliminated.Studies suggest that around 5% of people who use Seroquel experience weight gain as a side effect.Long-term treatment with Seroquel may be associated with moderate weight gain, most of which occurs during the first 12 weeks after beginning treatment.

Seroquel is not habit-forming, but you should not stop taking the medication without talking to your doctor first. You may experience withdrawal symptoms when you stop taking your medication, so you may be advised to gradually taper your dose in order to avoid unpleasant symptoms.Learn More:How Long Does Seroquel Withdrawal Last?

Seroquel is not habit-forming, but you should not stop taking the medication without talking to your doctor first. You may experience withdrawal symptoms when you stop taking your medication, so you may be advised to gradually taper your dose in order to avoid unpleasant symptoms.

Learn More:How Long Does Seroquel Withdrawal Last?

Seroquel has a half-life of around six hours. This means that it takes around six hours for half of the dose to be eliminated from your body. While it varies for each individual, the medication may stay in your system for around a day and a half. Factors such as your metabolism, overall health, kidney function, and age can affect how fast the drug is eliminated.

Studies suggest that around 5% of people who use Seroquel experience weight gain as a side effect.Long-term treatment with Seroquel may be associated with moderate weight gain, most of which occurs during the first 12 weeks after beginning treatment.

6 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.U.S. Food & Drug Administration.Seroquel.Chen CY, Lane HY, Lin CH.Effects of antipsychotics on bone mineral density in patients with schizophrenia: Gender differences.Clin Psychopharmacol Neurosci. 2016;14(3):238-249. doi:10.9758/cpn.2016.14.3.238Bergman H, Rathbone J, Agarwal V, Soares-Weiser K.Antipsychotic reduction and/or cessation and antipsychotics as specific treatments for tardive dyskinesia.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2018;2:CD000459. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD000459.pub3Christodoulou C, Margaritis D, Makris G, et al.Quetiapine and clarithromycin-induced neuroleptic malignant syndrome.Clin Neuropharmacol.2015;38(1):36-37. doi:10.1097/WNF.0000000000000060Cosci F, Chouinard G.Acute and persistent withdrawal syndromes following discontinuation of psychotropic medications.Psychother Psychosom. 2020;89(5):283-306. doi:10.1159/000506868Brecher M, Leong RW, Stening G, Osterling-Koskinen L, Jones AM.Quetiapine and long-term weight change: a comprehensive data review of patients with schizophrenia.J Clin Psychiatry. 2007;68(4):597-603. doi:10.4088/jcp.v68n0416Additional ReadingNational Alliance on Mental Health.Quetiapine (Seroquel).

6 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.U.S. Food & Drug Administration.Seroquel.Chen CY, Lane HY, Lin CH.Effects of antipsychotics on bone mineral density in patients with schizophrenia: Gender differences.Clin Psychopharmacol Neurosci. 2016;14(3):238-249. doi:10.9758/cpn.2016.14.3.238Bergman H, Rathbone J, Agarwal V, Soares-Weiser K.Antipsychotic reduction and/or cessation and antipsychotics as specific treatments for tardive dyskinesia.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2018;2:CD000459. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD000459.pub3Christodoulou C, Margaritis D, Makris G, et al.Quetiapine and clarithromycin-induced neuroleptic malignant syndrome.Clin Neuropharmacol.2015;38(1):36-37. doi:10.1097/WNF.0000000000000060Cosci F, Chouinard G.Acute and persistent withdrawal syndromes following discontinuation of psychotropic medications.Psychother Psychosom. 2020;89(5):283-306. doi:10.1159/000506868Brecher M, Leong RW, Stening G, Osterling-Koskinen L, Jones AM.Quetiapine and long-term weight change: a comprehensive data review of patients with schizophrenia.J Clin Psychiatry. 2007;68(4):597-603. doi:10.4088/jcp.v68n0416Additional ReadingNational Alliance on Mental Health.Quetiapine (Seroquel).

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

U.S. Food & Drug Administration.Seroquel.Chen CY, Lane HY, Lin CH.Effects of antipsychotics on bone mineral density in patients with schizophrenia: Gender differences.Clin Psychopharmacol Neurosci. 2016;14(3):238-249. doi:10.9758/cpn.2016.14.3.238Bergman H, Rathbone J, Agarwal V, Soares-Weiser K.Antipsychotic reduction and/or cessation and antipsychotics as specific treatments for tardive dyskinesia.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2018;2:CD000459. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD000459.pub3Christodoulou C, Margaritis D, Makris G, et al.Quetiapine and clarithromycin-induced neuroleptic malignant syndrome.Clin Neuropharmacol.2015;38(1):36-37. doi:10.1097/WNF.0000000000000060Cosci F, Chouinard G.Acute and persistent withdrawal syndromes following discontinuation of psychotropic medications.Psychother Psychosom. 2020;89(5):283-306. doi:10.1159/000506868Brecher M, Leong RW, Stening G, Osterling-Koskinen L, Jones AM.Quetiapine and long-term weight change: a comprehensive data review of patients with schizophrenia.J Clin Psychiatry. 2007;68(4):597-603. doi:10.4088/jcp.v68n0416

U.S. Food & Drug Administration.Seroquel.

Chen CY, Lane HY, Lin CH.Effects of antipsychotics on bone mineral density in patients with schizophrenia: Gender differences.Clin Psychopharmacol Neurosci. 2016;14(3):238-249. doi:10.9758/cpn.2016.14.3.238

Bergman H, Rathbone J, Agarwal V, Soares-Weiser K.Antipsychotic reduction and/or cessation and antipsychotics as specific treatments for tardive dyskinesia.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2018;2:CD000459. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD000459.pub3

Christodoulou C, Margaritis D, Makris G, et al.Quetiapine and clarithromycin-induced neuroleptic malignant syndrome.Clin Neuropharmacol.2015;38(1):36-37. doi:10.1097/WNF.0000000000000060

Cosci F, Chouinard G.Acute and persistent withdrawal syndromes following discontinuation of psychotropic medications.Psychother Psychosom. 2020;89(5):283-306. doi:10.1159/000506868

Brecher M, Leong RW, Stening G, Osterling-Koskinen L, Jones AM.Quetiapine and long-term weight change: a comprehensive data review of patients with schizophrenia.J Clin Psychiatry. 2007;68(4):597-603. doi:10.4088/jcp.v68n0416

National Alliance on Mental Health.Quetiapine (Seroquel).

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